Especially as hunting season approaches, it is important to watch out for deer while you’re driving.

The Midland Police Department reports that in 2010, there were 56,000 car / deer accidents in Michigan alone.  Just in Midland County, there were 923 car / deer accidents, and 19 of those were serious enough to cause injuries.

So, in an attempt to prevent more car / deer accidents, the police department is offering the following suggestions for drivers:

1. Watch for deer especially before and after sunrise. More car-deer accidents occur during these times of day than any other time.
2. Drive carefully when you are in deer-crossing zones. These signs are posted in areas known to have large populations of deer or in areas where agricultural fields divide from forest areas.
3. Use high beam headlights if there are no oncoming vehicles. High beams will allow the driver to better see the eyes of the deer.
4. Honk the horn when you see deer next to the roadway or highway. This will help scare the deer away from the roadway.
5. Blink your high beams at the deer. Deer seem to be in a trance when they see your headlights. By blinking your headlights at them, it seems to wake them up to the danger heading toward them.
6. Brake. When you see a deer in or near the roadway or highway, stay in your lane of traffic, but brake firmly. Do not lock the brakes up on your vehicle because that can cause you to lose control of the vehicle.
7. Wear your seatbelt. Many people who are injured or killed in car vs deer accidents were not wearing their seatbelts.